Turlock Double Homicide becomes Officer Involved Shooting

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TURLOCK-

Merced County deputies shot and killed a double homicide suspect early Saturday morning near the cross streets of S Main St and S Walnut Ave.

The Turlock Police Department is conducting the investigation. At this time, they can confirm that two deputies shot several rounds at the suspect, killing him on the scene at around 5:20 a.m.

“The deputies were confronted by the suspect and that is what led to the shooting,” Officer Mayra Lewis of the Turlock Police Department said.

The shooting followed a double homicide that occurred about three miles south of S Walnut, on the 11,000 block of Lander Ave in Merced County. Deputies responded to a shooting at around 8:00 pm Friday, where they found two women dead.

Leo Parraz was a friend of the victims. He identified the shooter as Brian Hiatt, and the victims as Hiatt’s wife Ronda Hiatt, and Ronda’s sister, Lisa Dennis Robbins. According to Parraz, Ronda Hiatt was at her sister’s home on Lander Road, when her husband arrived, and they got into an altercation. This ultimately led to the shootings.

“They’re going to be missed. They were good people,” Parraz said.

According to their Facebook page, Ronda and Brian Hiatt were newlyweds, and shared a profile page. But Parraz said he knew something was not right.

“He was very abusive, and I think that is why she didn’t want to go home with him,” Parraz said. “This is the Brian that is capable of doing that.”

Parraz said Hiatt fled the home after shooting the women. In the next few hours, Merced County deputies received information that Brian Hiatt was at or near the Motel 6 on S Walnut Ave. When they found Hiatt, he was on foot. They shot several rounds, and Hiatt was pronounced dead on scene.

The two officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave.